Folding stool

Unknown

early 17th century · Walnut, with intarsia decoration · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

This stool was originally intended to be used by a wealthy congregant of Saint Mary’s Church in Gdask, Poland, as a comfortable seat during Mass. Designed to be beautiful and portable, this stool is also personalized: in addition to the delicate intarsia showing birds and vines that symbolize the union of believers with Christ, the costly stretchers are coarsely incised with the initials “DS” and “IS.”

Artist

Unknown

Date

early 17th century

Medium

Walnut, with intarsia decoration

Culture

Northern German or Polish

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Alastair Bradley Martin, 1956